Pennsylvania CPA CPE Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
80 hrs / 2 years
Annual minimum
20 hours/year
Ethics requirement
4 hrs (within the 80)
Issued by
PA State Board of Accountancy
Pennsylvania keeps the headline number simple - 80 hours every two years - but adds a 20-hour annual floor and a fixed, statewide deadline that everyone shares: December 31 of odd-numbered years. Because the deadline is the same for all licensees rather than tied to your birthday, the end-of-cycle rush is very real, and so is the provider reporting lag.
CPAs call this CPE (continuing professional education), not CE. Here is what an active Pennsylvania license requires, in plain English.
The base requirement: 80 hours over two years
The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy requires 80 hours of CPE during each two-year reporting period, which runs January 1 to December 31 and ends in odd-numbered years. Within that total you must complete at least 20 hours in each calendar year, so the work cannot all be saved for the final stretch.
Ethics, attest hours, and self-study limits
- 4 hours of professional ethics are required each renewal period, and they count within the 80, not on top of it.
- CPAs who participate in attest activity must complete 24 hours in accounting and auditing each period.
- No more than 40 of the 80 hours may be earned through self-study programs.
- Keep your CPE documentation for at least five years, because the Board may audit your records.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Pennsylvania licenses renew biennially, with the reporting period and renewal both ending December 31 of odd-numbered years. If you fall short, the Board generally allows a limited window to cure the deficiency, but missing that can lead to suspension - so finishing early, ahead of the provider reporting lag, is the clean path.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Track the two-year 80-hour total alongside the 20-hour annual minimum, with separate progress per requirement so neither clock slips.
- Dedicated buckets for the 4-hour ethics requirement and, if it applies to you, the 24-hour attest accounting and auditing hours.
- Store every completion certificate in a private vault attached to the course it proves, so a Board audit is a one-click export.
- Reminders at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before the December 31 deadline, with your remaining hours in the subject line.
- Licensed in more than one state? Each license gets its own card, deadline, and reminder schedule on a single dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
How many CPE hours does Pennsylvania require?
80 hours every two years, with a minimum of 20 hours in each calendar year of the period.
How much ethics CPE does Pennsylvania require?
4 hours of professional ethics each two-year renewal period, counted within the 80-hour total rather than on top of it.
Is there an attest-specific requirement?
Yes. CPAs who participate in attest activity must complete 24 hours in accounting and auditing during each renewal period.
When is the Pennsylvania CPE deadline?
December 31 of odd-numbered years, when the two-year reporting period and the license renewal both end.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
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Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
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